Inflatable kites



April 23, 1963 T. HYMAN 3,086,737

' INFLATABLE KITES Filed April 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TUR. THEODORE HYMAN ATTORNEY April 23, 1963 T. HYMAN 3,086,737

INFLATABLE KITES Filed April 24. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F |G 8 INVENToR.

, THEoDoRE HYMAN ATTORN EY United States atent 3,686,737 INFLATABLE KiTES Theodore Hyman, 16%67 Green J alley Drive, St. Louis County, Mo. Filed Apr. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 105,021 7 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) This invention relates in general `to certain new and useful improvements in kites and, more particularly, to an inflatable kite.

It is conventional practice to make a kit by fabricating a framework of light wooden members held together by string .and then covering the framework with light paper or cloth. However, a slight deviation from the correct shape, size or form will materially reduce the aerodynamic efliciency of the kite and, as a result, it is a quite common experience that kites made in this manner often do not liy well or sometimes will not ily at all. Furthermore, conventional kites, even when well made, are diflicult to control and are subject to freakish air currents and Winds which may cause a kite to dive suddenly into trees, power lines, roof tops and similar obstructions. When this occurs, the kite is usually abandoned since it is difficult and often `dangerous, to retrieve it from such a precarious or hazardous location. Moreover, conventional kites, being made of a thin Wooden frame, are rather fragile and will often break apart under the slightest adverse circumstances.

Another common problem which is encountered with conventional kites arises from the fact that kites cannot usually be disassembled. In fact, most types of kites must be carried about from place to place and stored between periods of usage in fully set up condition. Since most types of kites are both bulky and fragile, this problem is rather difcult to overcome. In fact, most young boys, who expend considerable effort -in making a kite during the Spring season of one year and y it sucessfully without loss or breakage, will put the kite away after the kite season is over and, upon returning to it later on, will lind to their dismay that the kite has been damaged or broken during the period of storage.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an inatable kite constructed of flexible sheet material of the synthetic resin type.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a kite of the type stated which can be folded or rolled up into a relatively small package for storage, shipment, and similar handling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a kite of the type stated which can be readily inated and, when so inflated, will assume a selected shape which is aerodynamically efiicient.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable kite of the type stated which can be made in a variety of shapes and colors.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a kite of the type stated which is rigid and sturdy in construction and economical in cost.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings,

FIG. l is a top plan view of the deflated kite constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 2 2 and 3 3, respectively, of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the kite inflated and astra? Patented Apr. 23, 1963 ICC constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary lsectional views taken along lines 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 5 showing alternative wing-positions;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the inflated kite showing alternative wing-positions;

FIG. l0 is a side elevational view of the intlated kite; and

FiG. l1 is =a perspective view of the inflated kite with strings attached.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A `designates .an infiatable kite consisting of a somewhat triangular at bottom member 1 formed preferably from a heavy-gauge sheet of thermoplastic synthetic resin, such as polyethylene -or polyvinyl chloride. The bottom member 1 is procided with an arcuately-shaped forwardly presented margin 2 and a substantially straight rearward margin 3 connected by two rearwardly converging side margins 4, 5. Moreover, the lbottom member 1 may be said to have an upwardly presented face 6 and a downwardly presented face 7.

Disposed in at overlying relationship upon the surface 6 of the bottom member 1 in symmetrical relation along the longitudinal axis thereof is a similar plastic sheet 8 which is die-cut or otherwise suitably formed so as to linclude a long narrow central body section 9 which is provided at its forward end with an enlarged head portion 1t) and two laterally and forwardly extending arm sections 11, 12, which are curved slightly forwardly at their outer ends in the provision of leading tips 13, 14, respectively. At its rear end, the body section 9 is integrally provided with outwardly land rearwardly diverging leg portions 15, 16, which are substantially shorter than the arm sections 11, 12, and are disposed at an acute angle with respect to each other. The sheet 8 is secured around its entire peripheral margin by a continuous heat-sealed seam 17 so that the area `between the bottom member 1 and the sheet 8, which is enclosed within the seam 17, will constitute an air-tight enclosure.

Heat-sealed or otherwise secured in air-tight relation within the bottom member 1, preferably along the longitudinal axis of the body section 9 and toward the forward end thereof, is an air valve 18 integrally including an annular :ange 19 by which the valve 18 is eat-sealed to the bottom member 1. Formed integrally with, and extending across the central area of, the annular ange 19 is a flexible diaphragm 20 which is centrally provided with a depending air-inlet tube 21 having a downwardly projecting pull-tab 22. In its normal or valve-open position, the diaphragm 20 curves downwardly and outwardly in somewhat lenticular form and the air-inlet tube 21 projects axially outwardly therefrom substantially as shown in FIG. 4. Also integrally formed upon the opposite or interior face of the flange 19 is a series of uniformly spaced inwardly converging, relatively rigid arms 23 which merge into the periphery of a relatively rigid liat closure disk 24. It will be apparent that the user may place the air-inlet tube 21 between his lips and blow therethrough and air will pass through the openings between the arms 23 into the airtight enclosure formed between the bottom member 1 and the sheet S by the seam 17, thereby inflating the kite A. As `the kite A is inflated, the entire central portion will be longitudinally stiffened and the laterally extending portions of the enclosure in the region of the arm sections 11, 12, and leg sections 15, 16, will also be inflated and thus stittened. In such inflated position,

the .kite A will be, in dieet, .subdivided im forward aileron sections 25, 25, lateral wing-'forming'sections27, 2S, and a tail-Hap 29. As soon as lthe kite A has been fully inflated, the'Vair-inlet tube 21 may be pushed axially inwardly, Vtelescoping the diaphragm so that the interior end of the v air-inlet tube 21 will be securely held in endwise abutting relation against the closure disk 24. As a result, air cannot'escape through the Yair-inlet tube l2,1 and the kite A will remain inflated.

The bottom member 1 is provided along its longitudinal axis with forward and rearward eyelets 30, 31, which are respectively located yadjacent the forward and rearward margins of the body section 9. The user may insert a loop of the kite string l1 through these eyelets 3i), 31, and knot the end so as to retainit therein and attach a length .of kite Vline l2 thereto substantially as shown in FIG. l l. Thereupon, the inflated kite A may be launched and -will iiy in an extremely eicient manner.

It will, of course, be obvious that the design of the she/et ,8 may be changed within limits to represent the figure of a bird, an airplane, or any other figure. For example, .the leg portions 15, 16, could be extended outwardly at various angles and still maintain adequate aerodynamic efciency to render the kite stable in flight. The wings andrbody portion are formed with suiicient material sol that they may be manually raised or lowered, as shown in FIG. 9, vand the excess material gathered at a point adjacent the body portion, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The kite will, however, remain in either such adjusted posities- `It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the lseveral parts of the inflatable kites may be made and vsubstituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle o f my invention. Y A Y AHavingl thus described my invention, Vwhat VI claim and desire to secure by Letters li'atentis:l

1. Awkite vcomprising a flat normally flexible wingforming sheet, an elongated inatable chamber formed integrally V in the interior portions of said sheet and adapted, when iniiated, to hold saidsheet rigidly in Wingforrning position, said chamber having a central portion and two outwardly extending inflatable arm sections, said arm'sections being adjustably connected'to said central portion with an excess amount of material adjacent said central portion so that said arm sections will, upon manual adjustment, assume a dihedral angle which is upwardly deilected with respect tosaid central portion, said central :portion and arm sections forming a single gas-tight compartment, and a valve operatively opening into said cham- -ber for deflating and inflating said chamber. v

,2. A kite comprising a'flat normally flexible wingforrning sheet, an elongated inflatable chamber formed integrally in the interior portions .of said sheet and adapted, when inflated, to hold said sheet rigidly in wing- .forrning position, said chamber having a central portion kand two rearwardly extending divergent leg sections, said leg sections being adjustably connected to said central portion with an excess amount of material adjacent said -rcentral portion so that saidleg sections will, upon manual adjustment, assume a dihedral angle which is upwardly deiiected with respect to said central portion, said central portion and vleg sections forming a single gas-tight compartment, and a valve operatively opening into said chamber for deiiating and inflating said chamber.

3. A kite comprising a at normally flexible Wingforming sheet, an elongated inflatable chamber formed integrally in the interior portions of said sheet and adapted, when iniated, to hold said sheet rigidly in wingforming position, said chamber having a central portion,

`said arm and leg sections being adjustably connected to central portion with an excess amount of material adjacent said central portion so that -said arm and leg sections canbe extended'outwar'dly at various'angles with respect to said central portion, said central portion and arm and leg sections forming'a single gas-tight compartment, and a valve operatively/opening into said chamber for deflating and inflating said chamber.

4. A kite comprising a at normally liexible' wingforming sheet, an elongated inflatable chamber formed integrally in the interior portions of said sheet and adapted, when inated, to hold said sheet rigidly in wingforming position, said chamber having an enlarged head portion, Vtwo outwardly extending arm sections adjacent said head portion and two rearwardly extending divergent leg sections, said arm and leg `sections being adjustably connected to said central portion with an excess amount of material adjacent said central portion lso that saidV arm and leg sections can be extended outwardly at various angles with respect to said central portion, ysaid central portion and arm and leg sections forming a' single gastight compartment, and a valve operatively opening into said chamber for deiiating and inflating said chamber.

`5. A kite comprising a fiat normally flexible'wingforming sheet, an elongated inatable vchamber formed integrally in the interior portions of said sheet 'and adapted, when inflated to hold said sheet rigidly in wingforming position, said chamber having a central portion, an enlarged head portion, two outwardly extending arm sections adjacent said head portion and two rearwardly extending divergent leg sections, the portionof the wingforming sheet lying between the head portion and karm sections deiining forwardly presented aileron sections which are capable of iiexing to -form pockets, the portion of the wing-forming 4sheet lying between the ar'm sections and leg sections forming lateral wings which are capable of ilexing to form pockets, and a valve operatively opening into said chamber for deiiating and inating-'said chamber. 6. A kite comprising a at normally flexible wingforming sheet, an elongated inflatable chamber formed integrally in the interior portions of said V'sheet-'pand adapted, when inflated, to hold said sheet rigidly in wingforming position, lsaid chamber having a central portion, an enlarged head portion, two outwardly extending'arrn sections adjacent said head portion and two rearwardly extending 'divergent leg sections, said arm andV leg sections being adjustably connected to said central portion with an-excess amount of material adjacent saidcentral portion so that said arm and leg sections can be extended outwardly at various angles with respect to said central portion, said central portion and arm and leg sections forming a single gas-tight compartment, the portion of the wing-forming sheet lying between the head portion and arm sections defining forwardly presented vaileron 'sections which are capable of flexing to form pockets, the portion of the wing-forming sheet lying between the'arm sections and leg sections forming laterial Wings which are capable of flexing to form pockets, the portion of the wing-forming sheet between each of the divergent leg sections forming a tail ap which is capable of flexing to form a pocket, and a valve operatively opening into said chamber for deflating and inflating said chamber 7. An inflatable kite comprising a at normally flexible bottom member having an arcuately-shaped forward margin and a substantially straight rearward margin somewhat parallel to the chord of said arcuately-shaped forward margin, said margins being connected by rearwardly extending converging lateral edges, a top member disposed over and secured to said bottom member forming an internal inflatable elongated compartment, -said compartment having a body portion extending along the longitudinal center-line of said bottom member, a head section formed with said body portion and extending forwardly thereof, two outwardly extending arm sections extending laterally from the body portion, two rearwardly and outwardly extending leg sections terminating near said rear- Ward margin, said arm and leg sections being adjustably connected to said body portion with an excess amount of material adjacent said body portion so that said arm and leg sections can be extended outwardly at various angles with respect to said body portion, said body portion and arm and leg sections forming a single gas-tight compartment, the portion of the bottom member lying between the head section and arm sections defining forwardly presented aileron sections, the portion of the bottom member lying between the arm sections and leg sections for-ming lateral wing sections, the portion of the bottom member lying lbetween the two outwardly extending leg sections forming a tail ap, an eyelet in the bottom member adjacent said forward margin, an eyelet in the bottom member adjacent said rearward margin, and valve means mounted within said top member for inflating and deating said chamber.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,270 Ferris July 25, 1871 2,486,158 Haas oct. 25, y1949 10 3,003,722 Pohl oct. 10, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,085,385 France July 28, 1954 

1. A KITE COMPRISING A FLAT NORMALLY FLEXIBLE WINGFORMING SHEET, AN ELONGATED INFLATABLE CHAMBER FORMED INTEGRALLY IN THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SAID SHEET AND ADAPTED, WHEN INFLATED, TO HOLD SAID SHEET RIGIDLY IN WINGFORMING POSITION, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION AND TWO OUTWARDLY EXTENDING INFLATABLE ARM SECTIONS, SAID ARM SECTIONS BEING ADJUSTABLY CONNECTED TO SAID CENTRAL PORTION WITH AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF MATERIAL ADJACENT SAID CENTRAL PORTION SO THAT SAID ARM SECTIONS WILL, UPON MANUAL ADJUSTMENT, ASSUME A DIHEDRAL ANGLE WHICH IS UPWARDLY DEFLECTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID CENTRAL PORTION, SAID CENTRAL PORTION AND ARM SECTIONS FORMING A SINGLE GAS-TIGHT COMPARTMENT, AND A VALVE OPERATIVELY OPENING INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR DEFLATING AND INFLATING SAID CHAMBER. 